It’s doubtful that there will be betting allowed on the newly announced show called “Jeopardy! The Greatest is All-Time.”
That’s because the shows, which were announced on Monday and will first air on Jan. 7, will be taped. The fact was not mentioned in the announcement, but it was confirmed Tuesday to The Action Network by Jeopardy! spokesperson Alison Cooke.
The show will feature Ken Jennings, who won 74 straight, Brad Rutter, who won a record $4.68M, and James Holzhauer, who is a professional sports bettor and won $2.7 million after 32 consecutive appearances this year.
At least one bookmaker has made a request to be able to take action on the show. The SuperBook's Jeff Sherman said he filed a formal request from the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
On Wednesday, the SuperBook sent out odds for the event that it termed as being "for entertainment purposes only":
- James Holzhauer: 5-4 ($100 bet would profit $125)
- Ken Jennings: 7-4 ($100 bet would profit $175)
- Brad Rutter: 3-1 ($100 bet would profit $300)
The state gaming commissions, which decide what non-game bets are allowed within a state, typically don't allow betting on something that is not decided on the field of play. There have been some notable exceptions, including MVP and Heisman betting and, in New Jersey, the Oscars and Emmys. Taping makes it in even harder to allow, as the results can more easily be compromised.
The first show will start on Jan. 7 and will last for up to seven shows or until one of the three wins three contests.
The winner of “Jeopardy! The Greatest is All-Time” will take home $1 million. The runner-ups will win $250,000.
